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Who really said it

He who never quotes, is never quoted

His thought — the wording changes Charles Haddon Spurgeon Preacher
Disputed Free to reuse

Spurgeon’s 1863 sermon has “he who never quotes will never be quoted.” The circulating version substitutes “is never quoted”; the idea and speaker are supported, but the exact sentence has changed. The Spurgeon Library sermon ↗

Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?

For presentations

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Disputed wording — copy with the correction

“He who never quotes, is never quoted” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon · Verbatim: “He who never quotes will never be quoted.”

Can you use it?

Free to use, including in commercial and paid presentations — no permission or licence needed.

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In context

Evoking the themes of knowledge and creativity. Theme: "He who never quotes, is never quoted". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

Minimalist

Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "He who never quotes, is never quoted". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

Provenance

The source

Source
Paul—His Cloak and His Books, sermon 542
Evidence
Primary text checked

He who never quotes will never be quoted.

Documented wording; compare the popular version at the top.

The Spurgeon Library sermon

How we verified this

  • Spurgeon’s 1863 sermon has “he who never quotes will never be quoted.” The circulating version substitutes “is never quoted”; the idea and speaker are supported, but the exact sentence has changed. The Spurgeon Library sermon ↗
  • The Spurgeon Library provides the sermon text and its date, 29 November 1863. Quote Investigator independently traces the maxim to the same sermon and shows later versions. Read the supporting source ↗
Public domain

The documented original comes from a work published before 1931 and is in the US public domain. This does not automatically license a later adaptation or a new edition’s additions.

Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.

Fact-check

Often misattributed

Spurgeon’s 1863 sermon has “he who never quotes will never be quoted.” The circulating version substitutes “is never quoted”; the idea and speaker are supported, but the exact sentence has changed.

Charles Spurgeon Wording changed

The Spurgeon Library provides the sermon text and its date, 29 November 1863. Quote Investigator independently traces the maxim to the same sermon and shows later versions. The Spurgeon Library sermon ↗

Spurgeon’s 1863 sermon has “he who never quotes will never be quoted.” The circulating version substitutes “is never quoted”; the idea and speaker are supported, but the exact sentence has changed. The Spurgeon Library sermon ↗

Explore

Filed under

More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.

Knowledge Creativity

Go further

Dig deeper

Trusted places to keep pulling the thread — primary archives, fact-checks, and scholarship. We show how we used each one before you leave.

The Spurgeon Library sermonwww.spurgeon.org

The Spurgeon Library sermon542 text reads he who never quotes will never be quoted and is dated29November1863.
Specialist source trailquoteinvestigator.com

QI traces the future-tense wording to Spurgeon’s1863 sermon542.

The author

About Charles Spurgeon

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Preacher

Charles Spurgeon delivered this sermon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. His advice about reading and quotation forms part of an argument that even preachers should learn from other people’s books.

For writers & researchers

Cite this

The primary source (Chicago)

Paul—His Cloak and His Books, sermon 542. See the linked evidence for the wording and attribution limitations.

This verification page

Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘He who never quotes, is never quoted’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/he-who-never-quotes-is-never-quoted/

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